{Schizophrenia

A psychotic mental illness characterised by distorted perceptions, bizarre thoughts, disorganised speech, disturbed emotions and a deterioration in coping in everyday life.

What is schizophrenia?

Delusions- false beliefs or thoughts. Being paranoid that someone is assassinating the victim.

Disorganised speech- illogical and jumbled speeches.

Disturbed emotions Social withdrawal Thought disorder A deterioration of coping with everyday

life

Symptoms:

Genetic factors- children have 13% chance of having the condition if one parent has schizophrenia. 48% if your identical twin has schizophrenia.

Biochemistry- schizophrenics have higher levels of dopamine which affects brain’s functioning.

Brain anatomy- brain scans of schizophrenics show that some parts of the brain that involve cognitive processes are smaller.

Drugs and stress

What causes schizophrenia to develop?

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A comparison of a normal brain and a schizophrenic brain

Brain scans

Paranoia schizophrenia- victims are preoccupied with delusions. The most common type of schizo

Catatonic schizophrenia- victims are in two states; being completely immobile, or extremely excited.

Disorganised schizophrenia- bizarre thoughts occurs. Disorganized behaviours are dominant as well as living in “private worlds”.

Undifferentiated schizophrenia- Individuals are schizophrenic but do not meet the criteria for other types of schizophrenia, or meet the criteria for more than one type.

Residual schizophrenia- Individuals have experienced at least one episode of schizophrenia but obvious symptoms are no longer apparent.

Types of Schizophrenia

{Cure

Schizophrenia cannot be cured but, there are some treatments that manages the condition.

{mainly used to stabilise the symptoms a schizophrenic experiences with the view to the person returning home as quickly as possible.

hospitalisation

Helps control the psychotic symptoms schizophrenics experience by returning the chemical imbalance in their brains to normal levels. However, the medication used to treat schizophrenia tends to have unpleasant side-effects; for example, drowsiness.

medication

John Nash- a mathematician who had schizophrenia

“starry night” a famous art work by Vincent van Gogh

The professional can also help the schizophrenic person learn about their illness and ways of managing it most effectively. They may also assist the person to find appropriate housing if they have nowhere to live, to find a suitable job and assist with other skills depending on the problems and needs of the individual.

Social support

John Nash - Mathematician/Nobel Prize Winner

Albert Einstein's son - Eduard Einstein. Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham

Lincoln (past-President of the United States)

Vincent Van Gogh- famous expressionistic painter

Will Elliot- Australian novelist

Famous people who had schizophrenia

Psycentral.com Disabled-world.com Health.com.au

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